50^th Anniversary Weekend
at Hambridge/Somerset

30.07. - 01.08.2004

On Thursday afternoon 29.07. the first Magnettes arived in the small village of Hambridge, located in Somerset. The weather was fine as was the mood. Everybody was handed a welcome bag which contained a nice brass plaque and a rally plate and all the other stuff you need to get food. etc.
The tents and caravans were directed to their place. What a landscape! And everywhere Magnettes. From Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and UK of course. As usual time passed with greeting old friends, chatting and drinking some "welcome beers". While some of us were doing a BBQ, a rainshower come down, but this in no way stopped us, as the picures show. Very late the last zip of a tent closed before the event really started....

Friday:
Warren's timetable unmisunderstandable said that we had to get up early to get ready for the start. But this was easy as the sun was shining and it got too hot in the tent! Warren sent us off to a scenic tour around Hambridge which included several stops: At the Willows and Wetlands Centre on the levels followed by a pub lunch. Then heading on to visit Fred Body's car & motorcycle museum, which included the famous "Old Speckled Hen" beside several other prewar M.G.s and a huge collection of motorbikes. After this we had earned our delicious cream tea before returning to Hambridge.
In the evening the Register held it's AGM. Because of the sudden death of the chairman Roy Smalldridge a new chairman was needed and was found in the person of David Johnson. A short obituary for Roy was given, especially as he started organising this event with Warren. Those who knew Roy will surely have kept him in mind over the weekend and we were sure he already had a good influence in heaven and was now organising a sunny weekend!
A talk on life in the Somerset levels followed, before the big BBQ started outside . The Register offered a special bottled beer which showed the Magnette on the label. Although enough beer had been bottled there was nothing left on Sunday. Maybe a new collectable?
Not sure when those staying in B&B nearby left, but the party went on long on the campground...

Saturday:
If only Warren's timetable wouldn't be there! But it's getting too warm in the tent again as well. So everybody is ready to start in time. We head off for another scenic tour with "pit stops" at a cider brewery, pottery, local craft centres shop and another cider brewery. This really was worth a stop and try! I think most of us did. Then lunch at a pub or picknick before we went off for a scenic treasure hunt. Warren again had some tricky photographs and I think nobody found all of them.
Back in Hambridge the relaxing time with a cold beer in front of the tent was suddenly disturbed when John Hale engaged nearly everybody for a football match on the nearby playground. I think the "Shirts" bat the "Skins" with 10:9. Only Radboud couldn't resist to foul me. But matches between the Netherland and Germany are almost too emotional :-)
Well, meanwhile it was time to shower and get dressed for dinner in a nearby pub. Spceial guests were MGCC president Bill Wallis and chairman Stephen Cox of MGA Twin-Cam fame and _______ .
We had to leave after the dinner as our children are not very amused sitting in a pub. When the children were asleep in our tent my wife and I sat outside in front of the tent to enjoy the clear sky, the stars and some wine. It took only a few minutes and the first other campers joined us. It ended with 20 people sitting in a large circle until after midnight....

Sunday:
Unfortunalety the first cars from Denmark and The Netherlands had to leave to catch the ferry. But the others enjoyed the driving test on a nearby field. Peter Bonthrone had organised a Magnette picture colouring competion for the children. Much too soon the event came to an end with prizegiving and buffett lunch. Suddenly all tents were packed and nothing on the field showed which wonderful time we spent here.
Many many thanks to Warren and Janice Marsh, Peter Martin, who jumped in after Roy's death, Andy & Jo Brock, who cared for the Register regalia and all the other helpers, who made us feel so good. Also the work Roy Smalldridge did is not forgotten.